What is the purpose of cyberstalking?

Cyberstalking involves a series of behaviours and actions over a period of time that are intended to intimidate, alarm, frighten, or harass the victim and/or the victim’s family, partner, and friends.

What should you do if you are being Cyberstalked?

Cyberstalking – Do this first! Do not respond to their communications, never agree to meet and do not confront them about the stalking. Report it to the police – The police take stalking reports seriously and they have lots of experience investigating them. Report it early to the police directly using 101.

What should you do if you’re being cyberstalked?

Your first instinct is probably to get rid of everything that your cyberstalker has sent you, including chat logs, emails, and maybe even physical mail. However, it’s vital that you save every communication you’ve received as it can prove to be invaluable evidence.

What are the laws for cyberstalking and harassment?

Some states, like California and Illinois, have specific anti cyberstalking and harassment laws. Federal law also prohibits cyberstalking. Working to Halt Online Abuse (WHOA), a volunteer organization whose goal is to fight online harassment, has a comprehensive list of state and federal cyberstalking laws.

What should you do if you’re being stalked online?

The number one thing you should do the moment you realize that you’re being stalked online is to tell the cyberstalker to stop. You don’t need to give any explanations. Simply say something along the lines of “please do not contact me again.” Keep the message for your records.

Can a victim tell if a cyberstalker is a stranger?

Often, the victim has no way of knowing whether the cyberstalker is a stranger or someone they know in real life. According to a 2003 paper “ An Exploration of Predatory Behaviour in Cyberspace: Towards a Typology of Cyberstalkers ” by Leroy McFarlane and Paul Bocij, cyberstalkers typically fall into one of four categories:

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